BRIEFLY

Economy

Business Confidence Measure Is Best in Eight Years: Confidence among business executives has reached its highest level since 1984, according to the Conference Board. The research organization's business confidence index was 70 on a scale of 100 in the second quarter, up from 62 the first quarter. Most of the improvement reflects executives' increasingly favorable assessment of the economic condition, the board said. Another survey on business confidence also revealed growing optimism. Nearly 80% of 500 executives surveyed said economic conditions have improved the past six months, compared to 30% in the prior survey.